Smoking pipe reamer



NOV. 29, 1966 E. H. TERRELL, JR., ETAL SMOKING PIPE RFAMER` Filed March 25, 1964 I! j@ if f; /Z

United States Patent O "ice 3,288,149 SMOKING PIPE BEAMER Edward H. Terrell, Jr., 1442 N. Sedgwick, Chicago, lll.,

and Liitrelle l. Wassmann, Wilmette, lll.; said Wassmann assigner to said Terrell v Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 354,059

3 Claims. (Cl. 131-246) This invention relates to improvements in a tool for scraping or reaming the inside of the bowl of a smoking pipe,

An important object of the invention is to provide a smoking pipe reamer or scraper tool of the character described comprising, a generally cylindrical body having a handle formation at one end thereof for holding7 the tool while the tool and pipe bowl are rotated one relative to the other, and a shank portion -at the opposite end of the tool adapted to be inserted into the bowl of the pipe, said shank portion having a fixed scraper blade extending in the direction of the length of the shank and around the bottom end of said body and a resiliently mounted blade member constructed and arranged to adjust automatically to follow the contour of the bowl and to rake, loosen and/ or fragmentize the hard residue deposits on the interior surfaces of the bowl during such relative movement between the pipe bowl and tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smoking pipe reamer of the character described which is formed of a pair of substantially identical integral metal parts releasably secured together, said shank portion having a socket or cavity on one side thereof, said blade member being resiliently mounted in said socket and normally biased to protrude from the socket, said blade member and socket having cooperating stop means lfor retaining the resiliently mounted blade member in the socket, at least rone of said metal parts having an integral extension thereof protruding beyond the circumference of the shank portion to provide said fixed blade spaced from the resiliently mounted member an angular distance of approximately 180 degrees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smoking pipe reamer of the character described which can be gripped and thereafter manipulated effectively to press said resiliently mounted blade with its raking means and said fixed blade, respectively, against the hard residue deposits within the bowl of a smoking pipe While the tool and bowl are rotated one relative to the other whereby the said deposits can be raked and fragmentized and thereafter scraped from the bowl in a continuous operation.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel. reamer tool of the character described which by reason of the novel structural features thereof certain functions and results of operation are a-chieved which make the tool more efiicient and advantageous as will be more fully described hereinafter. In addition, the reamer tool embodying the invention is characterized by a construction which is simple and easy to manufacture, to repair and to service, is convenient and easy to use and is sturdy and durable.

The foregoing and -other objects of the invention will become apparent from the ensuring vdescription thereof in which a preferred embodiment has been described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It

is contemplated that minor variations in size, arrangement, construction and proportions of the several parts thereof, may occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the smoking pipe reamer embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of said pipe reamer as seen from the right of FIG. l, portions thereof being broken away to show structural details.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken through said pipe -reamer along line 3 3 of FIG. 2 and in the general direction indicated.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom end view of the pipe reamer, an alternate position of the resiliently mounted blade member being shown in a broken outline for use of said reamer with a larger bowl pipe.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. l, the smoking pipe reamer embodying the invention is identified generally by the reference character 10. The pipe reamer tool 10 comprises a generally cylindrical metal body having an elongate cylindrical handle 12 at one end thereof by means of which the tool is manipulated. The working end of the tool 10 opposite the handle 12 comprises a generally ycylindrical shank 14 of suitable cross-sectional dimension to permit the shank to be inserted to the bowl of a pipe, the inside diameter of which may vary within the range of conventional size pipe bowls. The shank 14 has a bottom end 16 Iwhich is rounded. The shank 14 mounts a fixed scraper blade designated generally 18 and the resiliently and slidably mounted blade designated 20. The 'blades 18 and 20 protrude outwardly beyond the circumference of the shank portion 14 at diametrically opposite loc-ations thereon. The fixed blade 18 extends in the direction of the length of the tool and has a straight segment 21 and a curved segment 22 which follows said rounded bottom end 16 around to the blade 2f), as seen in FIG. 1. The blade 2li is normally urged outwardly to -fa fully extended position seen in FIG. l and has an external notched or serrated end face 24, which is capable of a raking or loosening action when the tool is used to break up and/or loosen encrustations on the interior surfaces of the bowl of a pipe.

As seen in FIG. 4, the tool is illustrated engaged in the pipe lbowl 26 for scraping the same when the bowl 26 and tool 10 are rotated one relative to the other. Since :the blade 20 is resiliently mounted, it can move inwardly into the shank to permit the shank end 14 of the tool to be yaccommodated in the bowl 26. As the tool and pipe are rotated one relative to `the other, the operator can press the tool toward the -bottom of the bowl 26 and/ or against the sides of ythe bowl. The curved portion 22 of the fixed blade will bite into the floor or bottom of the boiwl `because it is rounded and can conform to the curvature of the bowl at its bottom. The straight portion 21 of the fixed blade 18 will engage a lateral surface of the bowl and the resiliently mounted blade 20 will be urged outwardly to engage the serrated face 24 against the bowl at a location diametrically opposite to the location on the bowl engaged by said fixed blade. In this manner, the fixed `blade Will scrape and the resilient blade will rake or loosen the Patented Nov. 29, 1966 hard deposits in the bowl in a complementary and successive action more effectively and efficiently toream the 'bowl of the pipe, including its curved bottom end. Noteworthy also is the elongate handle 12 which provides an excellent gripping surface for holding and pressing the tool to the most effective and efficient advantage. It is noteworthy that only one resiliently mounted blade is used in cooperation with a fixed blade. This enables the tool end 14 to be urged or biased against lateral surface portions of the .bowl for loosening and scraping the hard residue deposits.

The specific embodiment of the invention illustrated is formed of a pair of identical mating half parts designated individually by the same reference character 30. One part will be described in detail in the interest of brevity.

The part 30 is a solid metal body of elongate, substantially semi-cylindrical configuration. Part 30 has a fiat face 32 and a curved circumferential surface 34. The body has a segment 36 which cooperates with a like segment on the second part 3f) to provide the cylindrical handle 12 ofthe tool. The segment 38 opposite segment 36 forms the shank 14 of the tool. The parts 30 are intended to be releasably secured together with ytheir flat faces '32 abutted along the juncture designated by the line 40 in FIG. 2. A gripping Sleeve 42 of suitable material, such as cork, plastic, leather or the like, is telescoped over the abutted segments 36 which are releasably secured together by suitable mechanical fasteners such as the cap screws 44. It is contemplated that other fastening means, such as clamps, or pins, for example, may be substituted for the cap screws. The handle 12 resulting from the mated segments 36 is elongate and the upper end 46 is flat so lthat the palm of a hand can be pressed thereagainst for urging the tool downwardly and laterally.

The segments 3S each have a shallow well or depression 48 formed in the fiat face 32 thereof. The depression 48 is rectangular in configuration and has an end 5t) opening to the curved surface 34. The opposite end S2 is closed. The open end 50 is reduced in its longitudinal dimension as compared to the remainder of the well 48 by reason of the undercutting giving rise to the inwardly facing lips 53. When the parts 30 are assembled together, the wells or depressions 48 are in registry to form a socket 54 opening to the curved surface of shank 14 centered on line of juncture 4f). The ends 52 cooperate to form the bottom of the socket and the ends 5t) cooperate to form the entrance to said socket and lwill so Abe referred to hereinafter.

The blade 2t) is resiliently mounted in the socket 54. Said blade 20 comprises a rectangular bar 55 of metal of suitable complementary size to fit within the socket 54 between the facing ends of lips 53. The forward or outer end of the `bar 55 has the serrated face 24. The inner end face 56 of the bar 55 is flat and has a pair of extensions or lugs 57 protruding -outwardly beyond the lateral edges or sides 58 of said bar 55 flush with said end face 56. The distance `between sides 58 and the facing ends of lugs 53 is substantially the same, however, Ithe lugs 57 will prevent the lbar 55 from falling out of the socket 54 when they engage lips 53. Thus, lugs 57 and lips 53 cooperate to provide stop means to prevent removal of -the bar 55 from socket 54. The bar 55 has an elongate hole 60 perpendicular to ends 24 and 56 and midway between and parallel with the sides 58. The hole 60 opens to inner end face 56 anda coil spring 62 is -compressed in `said hole 260 by having its end convolutions bearing against the closed end or floor 52 of the socket 54 and the inner end of hole 60. Thus, the Iblade 2t) normally is urged outwardly ofthe socket 54 to its fullest extent by spring 62 which is the condition of the blade 20 shown in FIG. 1. When the tool is inserted Vinto the bowl 26 of a pipe, the blade 28 will be pressed inward-ly so as to permit the shank end 14 -to -be inserted. Inside the bowl 26, the blade 20 will be under spring bias urging the serrated end face 24 to be-ar against the inside surface of the bowl 26 at all times.

The fixed blade 18 and its curved extension 22 is provided by a rib 70 upstanding along the edge 72 of each shank part 38 opposite the edge of said part having the opening 50. The rib 70 is flush with the flat 'face 32 and extends lfrom a point '74 at' the upper end of the socket S4, along the length of shank part 38, around end 16 to a point adjacent to the lower end of cavity 54. Also, the rib 70 tapers gradually toward the part 30 from its point of commencement 70 so as to flush with the tool at its termination after passing around Ibottom end 16.

When the parts 30 are assembled, the ribs'70 abut -along line 40 and form the fixed blade 18 diametrically opposite the resilient blade 20, as seen in FIG. 4. In cross-section, fixed Iblade 18 has a flat end face 76 and sides 78 which taper toward end face 76. The edges y8) at the juncture of sides 78 and end face 76 provide the scraper or cutting edges of the fixed .blade 18 and these edges 80 lare continuous around -the bottom end 16 and on blade portion 22 thereat.

As for the resilient blade 20, the corner edges 82 of the end face 24 also provide the cutting edges for this blade. As the tool is rotated relative to the bowl, the edges 8f) and 82 bite into the hard encrustations to accomplish their respective functions. Since the end face 24 is serrated, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, tine-like formations are provided which can chip away at the hard residue and loosen same.

Note that fixed blade 18 and resilient blade 20 each are relatively thick so as to provide strength and reenforcement for the cutting edges and 82 when the tool is pressed against the bowl surfaces and rotated. The lugs 57 are spaced only slightly from the side of the socket 54 to provide lateral stability for the blade 20 as the tool is used, yet permit some pivotal movement of the blade about the axis of spring 62 so that the blade 20 can conform better to the curvature of the bowl. N-ote also that lips 53 abut sides 58 of the bar S5 for the same purpose. When the bowl and tool are rotated one relative to the other, the edges 80 and 82 perform -their functions respectively in succession, i.e., the one passes over the same surfaces of the bowl 26 after the other has done its work.

The linear dimension of the bar between faces 24 and 56 is greater than the depth of socket 54 so that when the bar 55 bottoms in socket 54, the face 24 will still 'i protrude beyond the circumference of the shank 14. Also by removing the cap screws 44, the parts 30 can be separated for installing or replacing the blade 20 in socket 54.

What is desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A smoking pipe reamer comprising, a generally cylindrical body having an elongate handle at one end and a shank at the opposite end, said shank having a rounded end, an internal socket on one side of the shank, a fixed scraper blade on said shank having a `first portion on the side of said shank opposite said socket, said scraper blade portion tapering toward said rounded end of the shank, said scraper blade having an arcuate portion tangent to and joining the tapered end of the first portion and extending across said rounded end, the arcuate portion being bisected by .the axis of said shank, a raking blade member slidably mounted in said socket and spring biased to a normal position protruding from said socket, the protruding face of said raking blade being serrated and tapered in a direction toward said arcuate portion of the scraper blade and terminating immediately adjacent thereto, said scraper blade and raking blade lying in a common plane parallel to the axis of said shank, thereby presenting a scraping and raking member which is substantially continuous and provides substantially continuous contact with the internal wall of a tobacco pipe bowl.

2. A reamer as defined in claim 1 wherein said rounded end is hemispherical in shape and wherein the fixed scraper blade fis integral with said shank.

3. A reamer as defined in claim 1 and further includins Stop means for preventing complete withdrawal or the 5 6 -raking blade member from said socket, said stop means 2,380,186 7/ 1945 Mayer 15-236 comprising a plurality of lugs on said raking blade mem- 3,023,754 3/ 1962 Cuchiara 131-246 ber and lips on the shank yadjacent the opening of the socket, said lugs and lips cooperating to limit the outward FOREIGN PATENTS movement of the raking blade member. 5 552,253 1/ 1923 France.

444,035 5/ 1927 Germany. References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

1,678,488 7/ 1928 Stillwaggon. JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner. 1,872,198 8/1932 van Rixei. 10

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,288,149 November 29, 1966 Edward H. Terrell, Jr. et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line Z9, for "to", third occurrence, read into line 52, after "pipe" insert bowl column 3, line 19, after "body" insert 30 Signed and sealed this 12th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD I. BRENNER Attestng Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A SMOKING PIPE REAMEWR COMPRISING, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY HAVING AN ELONGATE HANDLE AT ONE END AND A SHANK AT THE OPPOSITE END, SAID SHANK HAVING A ROUNDED END, AN INTERNAL SOCKET ON ONE SIDE OF THE SHANK, A FIXED SCRAPER BLADE ON SAID SHANK HAVING A FIRST PORTION OF THE SIDE OF SAID SHANK OPPOSITE SAID SOCKET, SAID SCRAPER BLADE PORTION TAPERING TOWARD SAID ROUNDED END OF THE SHANK SAID SCRAPER BLADE HAVING AN ARCUATE PORTION TANGENT TO AND JOINING THE TAPERED END OF THE FIRST PORTION AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID ROUNDED END, THE ARCUATE PORTION BEING BISECTED BY THE AXIS OF SAID SHANK, A RAKING BLADE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SOCKET AND SPRING BIASED TO A NORMAL POSITION PROTRUDING FROM SAID SOCKET, THE PORTRUDING FACE OF SAID RAKING BLADE BEING SERRATED AND TAPERED IN A DIRECTION TOWARD SAID ARCUATE PORTION OF THE SCRAPER BLADE AND TERMINATING IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THERE- 